Learning to shepherd

When Christians speak about ‘shepherding’, they’re generally talking about caring for people. However, for Israel of old, shepherding was simply a way of life. They were keepers of sheep, and they looked after flocks. In the Scripture, the shepherding history of Israel describes who the Lord is and who His people are. Jacob spoke of ‘the God who has been my shepherd all my life’. Gen 48:15. The Lord is the great Shepherd who leads us in and out to find pasture and cares for us. We are His sheep, but we must also learn to be shepherds and provide care for each other under the hand of Jesus, the good Shepherd.

However, shepherding is more than general ‘care’. Shepherding must have some genuine practical and accountable intent. Showing adequate care in a situation may be to empathise and comfort, bring material support, or provide some honest observations and adjustment. How will we know what is required? We ourselves are sheep, and are learning from the great Shepherd. Regardless of how a shepherd feels in the moment, ‘care’ will be defined by whatever the sheep need.

Shepherding has little to do with warm feelings. Sometimes, it’s emotionally difficult. In this way, it is like parenting. There’s not a lot in the direct activity of parenting that has warm feelings about it. It’s about provision, supply, support, encouragement, care, and rebuke. In the moment, it can be hard to deliver the kind of care our children really need. We might be tempted to simply adopt a feel-good approach. But no wise parent or shepherd works this way.

The warmth and reward of shepherding is found in the outcome of showing proper care. It’s in knowing that people are safe and secure. We need to cultivate the skill of being observant without any self-interest or partiality. Shepherds must be outward looking; not introspective, overwhelmed by life or self-preoccupied. We just have to keep our composure. This is why Paul wrote, ‘Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God’. Acts 20:28. The shepherd is accountable for clarity and accuracy, because he will impact the flock whether it is positively or negatively!

King David was a remarkable example of a true shepherd, taken from the sheepfold to be ruler over God’s people. 2 Sam 7:9. He had no aspiration of becoming king. He was born with no more capacity to shepherd than we, but he learnt to tend, feed and protect, and care for the sheep. We don’t have to fight off lions and bears like he did, but we still need to watch! Being a shepherd and caring for people, requires that we see danger and difficulty a long way off.

From humble beginnings as a fisherman, Peter was also given the mandate to watch and lead, feed and tend the sheep of the Lord’s pasture. We may not think of ourselves as a leader. Nonetheless, our family and others will be watching and following us. The Lord is the great Shepherd and He is constantly leading and active among the group of people called, ‘The sheep of His pasture’. Psa 79:13. If we continue to follow Him, learning how to watch and care, we can become shepherds too.

Geoff Smith

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Feature Articles
February 2009

A measure of faith

Faith for resurrection

Calling upon the Lord

Ready or not

Recognising new creation

Learning to shepherd

The word of faith

The fruits of wisdom

Following the Lamb

Once I was blind

What are fences for?